LOCOG’s connection to this course goes back to late 2005, shortly after bid win, when we were asked by Denis Oswald, Chairman of the IOC’s 2012 Co-ordination Commission and CIES Director and President of the FIFA Master Scientific Committee, to contribute a seminar to the course. In addition, Seb was Guest of Honour at last Summer’s Masters Degree Ceremony, following a long tradition of distinguished sporting greats such as Sergei Bubka, Alexander Popov, Bobby Charlton and Michel Platini.
In each of the last three years I have given a presentation to the students outlining how good business practices were bought to bear on London’s successful bid for the 2012 Games. After the presentation we take them out to Holden Point to view progress in the Olympic Park development.
This year’s event went like clockwork thanks to the sterling efforts of the LOCOG team, though the weather could have been kinder. By the time we got to the Olympic Park, the cloud was hanging low and there was more than a touch of drizzle in the air.
However, everyone seemed to enjoy the day and the level of interest, as evidenced by the number of questions, was particularly high. The questions touched upon a wide range of topics covering such issues as security of athletes in the Park, the broad economic impact of the Games, Project Funding and Environment and Sustainable Development.
My Olympics
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